Liquid measuring or dispensing apparatus



Feb. 24, 1931. i P. s. SHIELD .1,794,209

LIQUI) MEASURINGVOR DISPENSlNCT APPARATUS Filed Aug- 17'. 192e 2 sheets-sheet 1 MSM @5% auw Feb. 24, 1931. P. s. SHIELD 1,794,209

LIQUID MEASURING OR DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Aug- 17. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

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Patented Feb. 24, 1931 Ulti..

W @TENT @FCE PAUL S. SHIELD, OF CINCENNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR'TO AUG-USTNE DAVIS,v JR., OF CNCINNATI, O l-IIO LIQUID IVIEASUEING OR DISPENSING APPARATUS The invention relates to that type of liquid measurnig or dispensing apparatus having twin measuring chambers which are alternately filled and emptied, one being filled d. while the other is emptying, and vice-versa, as long as the operation continues, or until the required number of unit quantities have been delivered, and wherein automatic movenent of valve mechanism to reverse the conditions of fiow is initiated .by pressure developed in the filled chamber as the result of the closing of a vent, the further movement of the valve mechanism being caused by a spring or equivalent mechanism which is g5 brought into action always in advance of center, in respect to. movement of the valve means in both directions. his actuating mechanism may be termed a snap-over or carry-over action, since it acts in either direction on being carried past a dead center. rhe dead center past which this mechanism acts must lie in diderent positions in the opposite strokes, in order that the mechanism shall take up and carry on the movement of the valve means always in advance of the center of movement thereof. Heretofore, this has been accomplished by so designing the snap-over mechanism that it resets or re-establishes a fulcrum at the end of each stroke, in respect to the next succeeding` stroke in the reverse direction.

In the present invention a snap-over action is pro-vided in which a fulcrum or center is shifted by and simultaneously with the fore part of each stroke of the valve mechanism. In this way a very positive and reliable operation is secured; and a further advantage is that a mechanism is obtained which is adapted for inexpensive, quantity methods of manufacture, and is easy and inexpensive t0. keep in order and repair.

The invention also includes an improved single piston valve which controls the flow to and from both measuring` chambers and which is shifted in the fore part of its stro-ke by the pressure of the liquid acting directly on it. For this purpose, a piston has heretofore been provided having open ends and a central wall against which the uid pres- .":a sure acts, the flow of liquid both to and from the measuring chambers being compelled to pass through the hollow interior of the plston, which is divided into two spaces. A

t awback of this form of single piston device is that the flow passages are rather restricted, so that the action the dispenser in making deliveries is comparatively slow. According to the present invention such a piston is provided with solid ends against which the pressure acts and past which the discharging liquid flows from the measuring chambers, only the flo-w to these chambers passing through the interior of the valve. In this way the flow is made more rapid, while the important simplicity of the single pressureactuated piston and valve isretained.

ln the accompanying drawings forming part hereof:

F ig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a dispensing apparatus embodying the invention, the Ysection being taken on the line l-l ofv Fig. 2;

F ig. 2 is an elevation looking at right angles to Fig. l, with a portion broken out and shown in central vertical transverse section;

Fig. 3 is a view on a larger scale of the snap-over action seen in Fig. 2;

Fig. i is a rear elevation of the snap-over action, showing the same in one of its extreme or rest positions; and

Fig. 5 is a. view similar to Fig. 4l, showing the snap-over action to have been shifted by the pressure on the valve to a position in which it will carry the valve past its mid position and to the end of its stroke- Two measuring chambers of unit capacity are marked 2, these chambers being provided with visible glass cylinders 3. The measuring chambers are mounted on a .suitable franie or stand il, of which a portion is shown.. This frame contains a transverse cylindrical valve case 5 beneath the measuring chambers and communicating therewith by large passageways 6.. An opening 7 in the valve case communicates with a supply passage 8 from a pump not shown), which raises gasoline from an underground tank and delivers it under moderate pressure to the measuring apparatus. Two openings 9 in the bottom of the valve case connect the interior of the Vcase its ends ivi-th a discharge space having outlet nozzle 11, to Which the dispensing hose is connectel The measuring t. chambers provided at the top with air- 5 vent openings 12, pre'lerably interconnected 1G ends 17 is fitted to reciprocate in the valve case, lt nas two ports 13 in its top, at opposite sides of the center, vto admit the liquid through the assageivays 6 to the measuring 1 L 'i an opening 19 which commut e supply opening 7.

le valve is shown in its leftleft-hand discharge `e right-hand disj 9 uncovered. The left-hand l3 of the valve is open to the supply port i3 is blanlred. Liquid is consequently flowing out of the right-hand measuring chamber 2, past tlm end of the piston, to t ie enit 11, assuming t at chamber to have been filled, and is being delivered from the supply by Way of the hollow interior of the piston to the left-hand chamber 2.

YWhen the left-hand chamber becomes full, its float closes its vent valve 14. rlhereupon pressure is developed on the liquid in this'chainber, which acts upon the left-hand closed end of the piston, forcing this piston toward the right. TWhen the point of the left-hand supply port of the piston reaches the point 21 of the Wall of the valve case, pressure is cnt ofi from the left-hand measuring chamber, so that the movement of the piston would cease Were it not carried on by the snap-over action 22 to be described. lt Will'be observed that the relations of the port-s and passages are such that the supply to each measuring chamber is cut ed before the outlet therefrom is opened, and vice-versa, the outlet from each chamber is closed before 'the supply is opened to that chamber.

The ends 17 of the piston are preferably inclined downwardly and outwardly, and provid-ed vvith external channels 23, the more conveniently to enable the pressure in the filled chamber to be applied to the end of the listen, but it will be apparent that the openings 6 in the ton of the valve case might be extenned to the ends of the case with like effect.

its travel in each direction, thereby carrying the snap-over mechanism to and past a center, thereafter to continue the movement of the piston under the action of said mechanism.

Said roch-shaft er pivot has ano-ther lever arm 26 fixed to it in a mechanism chamber 2T, and this lever is pivotally connected at 23 to another linlr or lever 29, which is piveted at 30 to a bell-crank 31, Which is Apivoted at 32 to a lined pivot. The levers 26 and 29 form a toggle, and the bell-crank 31 constitutes an oscillatory shiftable fulcrum member. The link or lever 29 is of telescopic construction so as to be extensible an contractible and ca `ries an expansion spring 33, constituting a power element. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular source of povver that energizes the snap-over or carry-over mechanism, or to the precise form of the mechanism, which hay be varied.

rllhe fulcrum member 31 is shifted by and ultancously vvith the fore part of the move nent of the valve piston 1G by means, the prefererrl of which is as follows: El rocker 34 is mounted to oscillate about an eX- tension 35v of the rock-shaft 24, and is connected with the member 31 by a pitman linl;

Tivo rev `ely extending dogs 37 are pivoted to the lever 23 and are formed for thrust engagement with studs or rollers 33 on the recher 34. The dogs are alternately locked in engagement With said rollers by bell-crank detente7 39 pivoted on the rocker and actuated by springs 40. A a point in advance of each extreme' of mov-eine of the mechanism, that is to say when the toggle levers pass 'their line of centers, the free arm of the detent 39 then locking one of the dogs encounters one of tivo adjustable scrcxv stops or trips 41, causing the detent to release the dog so that it over-travel the ro cher. The movement of the pivoted fulcrum member 31, and thereby the movement of the rocker-34, is limited in both directions by .stops 42. The movenient of the detente 39 under the action of the springs 40 is limited by stops 43.

The adjustable trips 41 enable the dogs or connections 37 to be unlocked or disconnected at the proeer points in the movement of the mechanism, vfithout necessity for special accuracy in the manufacture of the parts. 'llhe pitman 35 also provides for adjustment,

s shown.

ln operation, While the piston is moving to the right under fluid pressure, the toggle lever device is being moved from an angular position toward its line of centers. fit the same time the fulcruin member 31 is being moved to the left, so that the dead center past Which the lever device must be carried in ordeil that the spring 33 may act is shifted in the reverse direction past the space center. Consequently, the spring takes up the movement of the valve at a point in advance orn its center of travel and carries it through to the right-hand position.

Similarly, when the valve is being moved to the left under fluid pressure, it moves the toggle toward a straightened condition, and this condition, owing to the simultaneous shifting of the fulcrum member 3l, occurs at the other side of the space center, so that the movement of the valve is again taken Vup by the spring in advance of the center of' valve travel.

.l t will be observed that the action of the mechanism is positive, and that its nature is such that expensive machined `or hand-made parts are avoided and that adjustment, replacement and repair service is simple.

l claim:

l. ln a measuring or dispensing apparatus having a pair of measuring chambers which 25e alternately charged and discharged, one chamber discharging while the other is being charged, said chambers being provided with vents and means for automatically closing the same when the chambers are charged, and a piston valve which controls the charging and discharging of the two chambers and movement of which to reverse the conditions of flow is initiated by the pressure developed in each chamber when its vent is closed; a enap-over spring` mechanism interconnected with said piston valve so as to be acte-d upon thereby when said piston valve is moved by the fluid pressure, said mechanism comprising a lever device having a shiftable fulcrum and connections between said piston valve and said fulcrum whereby said fulcrum is :l fted by and simultaneously with the fore part of the movementof said piston valve, in order that said snap-over spring mechanism shall become active in advance of the center of movement of said piston valve in both directions to complete the movement of the same.

2. In a measuring or dispensingapparatus having a pair of measuring chambers which are alternately charged and discharged, one chamber discharging while the other is being charged, said chambers beingprovided with vents and means for automatically closing the same when the chambers are charged, and a piston valve which controls the charging and discharging of the two chambers and movement of which to reverse the conditions of flow is initiated by the pressure developed in each chamber when its vent is closed; a snap-over spring mechanism interconnected with said piston valve so as to be acted upon thereby when said piston valve is moved by the i'iuid pressure.y said mechanism comprising a lever device having a shiftable fulcrum and connections between said piston valve and said fulcruni whereby said fulcruni is shifted by and simultaneously with the fore part of the movement of said piston valve,

and'means whereby said connections are au-y tomatically connected and disconnected in alternation, in order that said snap-over spring mechanism shall become active inadfvance of the center of movement of said piston valve in both directions to complete the movement of the saine.

3. ln an apparatus of the character de scribed having twin measuring chambers and valve means to control the flow to and from said measuring chambers, the movement of which t'o reverse the conditions of flow is in-v itiated by fluid pressure, an oscillatory mechanism comprising a rock-shaft connected with said valve means, an arm fixed to the rockshaft, a second arm pivoted .to the first, one of said arms being eXtensible and contractible and having a spring, a shiftable fulcrum` member to which the second arm is connected, an oscillatory member, means connecting said oscillatory member with said 'fulcrum member to shift the same, dogs operated byl the rock-shaft to act alternately upon said oscllatory member in opposite directions to oscillate the same, and means for 'automatically locling and unlocking said dogs, in or* der that said spring shall become active inV advance of the center of movement of-said valve means in both-V directions to complete the movement of the same.r y A f 4. In an apparatus of the character Adescribed having twin measuring chambers and valve means to control the'flow to and from said chambers, the Amovement of which to Areverse the conditions offlow is initiated by fluid pressure, van oscillatory mechanism comprising a rock-shaft connected with said valve means, an arm fixed to the rock-shaft, a second arm pivoted to the first, one of said arms being extensible and contractible and having a spring, an oscillatory fulcrum member to which the second arm is connected, an oscillatory shifting member, a pitman connecting said shifting member with the fulcrum member, and means operated by the rock-shaft to move said oscillatory shifting member in opposite directions, in order that said spring shall become active in advanceotI the center of movement of said valve means in both directions to complete the movement of the same.

5. In an apparatus of the character described having twin measuring chambers, a valve to control the flow to and from said chambers, the movement of which valve to reverse the conditions of flow is initiated by fluid pressure, a power element and means for causing the same to act upon said valve in advance of a center in respect to its movement in both directions, said means comprising a lever operatively connected with said valve, a shiftable fulcrum member for said lever, and connections between said valve and said fulcrum member whereby ,said fulcrum member is shifted by said valve and simultaneously with the fore part of the movement thereof in both directions. l 6. In an apparatus of the character described having twin measuring chambers, a valve to control the How to and from said chambers, the movement of which valve to reverse the conditions of flow is initiated by4 fluid pressure, a power element and means for causing the same to act uponsaid valve lo in advance of a center in respect to its movement in both directions, said means comprising` a lever operatively connected with saidv valve,-a-shiftable fulcrum member for said lever, and connections between said valve and said ulcriim member whereby said ulcrum member is shifted by said valve and simultaneously with the fore part of the movement thereof in both directions, and means for au tomatically disconnecting said connections to permit the completion of the movement.

I. In an apparatus of the character described liaving twin measuring chambers and valve means to control the flow to and from said twin measuring chambers, the movement of which to reverse the conditions of flow is initiated'hy iluid pressure, a snap-over action for completing the movement of the valve means, comprising a lever device operatively connected with the valve means, a shiftable fulcrum member to which said lever device is connected, connections operatively connected withthe valve means for shifting said fiilcrum, and adjustable trip means for causing automatic disconnection of saidV connections.

s PAUL S. SHIELD. 

